Process using a combination, oil, gas, and/or solid burner

ABSTRACT

A process utilizing a burner that is adapted to burn oil, gas, and/or solid fuels having an inner oil and/or gas burner, a primary combustion chamber in coaxial relation with the conventional burner, a passageway surrounding the primary combustion chamber in flow communication therewith and a source of oxygen containing gas and source of combustible particulate solid material, and a conduit in communication with the passageway and mountable in a furnace wall. The process introduces the combustible particulate solid material into the burner. Preferably, the particulate material is dried in the process prior to its introduction into the burner.

United States Patent 11 1 Walker Jan. 14, 1975 [5 1 PROCESS USING A COMBINATION, 01L, 1,801,431 4/1931 111511 431/183 GAS, AND/R SOLID BURNER 1,950,980 3/1934 Frisch 239/400 Dale E. Walker, Winfield, Kans.

Peabody Gordon-Piatt, Incorporated, Winfield, Kans.

Filed: Mar. 11, 1974 Appl. N0.: 449,913

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 294,620, Oct. 3, 1972, Pat. No. 3,827,851.

Inventor:

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1929 lrish 431/184 41/ I Z m k 76 a 1a g M 1 m 78 /4 38 4a 74 Y, 102

Primary ExaminerCarroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lohn H. Widdowson [57] ABSTRACT A process utilizing a burner that is adapted to burn oil, gas, and/or solid fuels having an inner oil and/or gas burner, a primary combustion chamber in coaxial relation with the conventional burner, a passageway surrounding the primary combustion chamber in flow communication therewith and a source of oxygen containing gas and source of combustible particulate solid material, and a conduit in communication with the passageway and mountable in a furnace wall. The process introduces the combustible particulate solid material into the burner. Preferably, the particulate material is dried in the process prior to its introduction into the burner.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATE HTEB JAN 1 M875 SHEET 10F 4 SAWDUST AND CONVEYING AIR PATENTEDJANMIQTS 3.859.935

SHEET 3 OF 4 COMBUSTION CHAMBER PROCESS USING A COMBINATION, OIL, GAS, AND/OR SOLID BURNER This is a continuation-in-part application of my copending application, Ser. No. 294,620, filed Oct. 3, 1972 and now US. Pat. No. 3,827,851.

Numerous types of conventional processes use multifuel burning devices which are known in the prior art as operable to burn individually and simultaneously liquid, gaseous, and solid particle fuels. These prior art devices are adapted to burn oil, natural gas, liquid propane gas, and an air suspension of either coal particles or wood particles. In all of the prior art devices used in those conventional processes the nozzle and burner cone structural portions of the burners are constructed in a special and sometimes very complicated manner to properly place the materials in such a position at the throat of the burner so the combustion is maximized and may operate individually or simultaneously as desired. These prior art multi-fuel burning devices have numerous fuel directing structures to swirl or twist the flow of fuel coming from the flame end of the burning device. These swirling and flow twisting devices depend upon auxiliary mechanical means not included in the combustion portions of the burning apparatus to accomplish the flame and fuel flow. In all the prior art multi-fuel burning devices the apparatus is specifically constructed to burn the fuels individually or simultaneously through means of the complicated burner structures, and the burner structures are not particularly adapted to use any existing burner components or dual combination burners.

In one preferred specific embodiment, a process utilizes a combination burner structure which includes an inner burner for oil and/or gas fuels mounted with a refractory primary combustion chamber and a wood-air mixture passageway surrounding the oil and/or gas burner and in flow communication with the primary combustion chamber outlet which is operable to burn either oil, gas, or solids either separately or in any combination thereof. The inner burner is a conventional oil and/or gas burner of the forced draft type having a blower adapted to force air through the burning device, oil burning nozzles, and gas burning nozzles; the outlet of the burner is adapted to be placed in the small portion of the primary combustion chamber. The remaining structure of the combination burner includes the primary combustion chamber with an annular passageway therearound having a manifold connected thereto to pass an oxygen containing gas and solid fuel mixture from appropriate sources into the passageway at the outlet of the primary combustion chamber, and a conduit connecting the burning device with a furnace wall or the like. The combination burner structure is connected with a furnace or the like by a conduit connecting the outlet of the passageway surrounding the primary combustion chamber to the firebox portion of a furnace. The process introduces the particulate combustible material into the burner. The particulate material is preferably dried before introducing it into the burner.

One object of this invention is to provide a process which utilizes a combination oil, gas, and/or solid burner structure overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.

Still, one other object of this invention is to provide a process having use of a combination oil, gas, and/or solid burner adapted to burn oil, gas or solid fuels simultaneously or individually.

Still, another object of this invention is to provide a process which uses a combination burner adapted to burn oil, gas, or solid fuels individually or simultaneously and utilizing a conventional oil and/or gas burner therein.

Yet, another object of this invention is to provide a process which utilizes a combination burner having in coaxial relation a conventional oil and/or gas burner, a primary combustion chamber, a passageway to introduce an oxygen containing gas and solid fuel mixture at the outlet of the primary combustion chamber, and a conduit to connect the combination burner to a furnace wall or the like.

Yet, an additional object of this invention is to provide a process having use of a combination burner with adjustable vanes in a passageway therein for directing the flow of an oxygen containing gas and solid fuel mixture to the outlet of the burner.

Still, one other object of this invention is to provide a process for burning combustible particulate material having a combination burner with means to control the combustion of .its oil, gas, or solid fuels supplied thereto separately or in combination depending on whether the burner is operating with the fuels individually or in any combination thereof.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the combination burner mounted with a furnace, showing only a portion of the furnace and having portions of the combination burner and furnace wall cut away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the combination burner and the adjacent portion of a furnace burner entryway showing in cross-section the furnace wall and the combination burner with the oil and/or gas burner housing portion thereof shown in full view;

FIG. 3 is a flame end elevation view of the combination burner alone having portions thereof cut away;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the combination burner manifold taken from the outer end having the oil and- /or gas burner apparatus removed therefrom;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the combination burner having an auxiliary blower in communication with the plenum chamber of the burner structure; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram disclosing the process which utilizes the combination burner.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the process and the combination oil, gas, and/or solid fuel burner structure of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and'description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a combination oil, gas, and/or solid fuel burner structure used in the process of this invention, indicated at 10, is shown mounted with the burner end portion of a furnace apparatus, indicated at 12. The combination oil, gas, and/or solid fuel burner 10 includes a conventional oil and/or gas burner apparatus or inner burner 14 mounted with a primary combustion chamber 16, a manifold or plenum chamber 18 to contain an oxygen containing gas and the particulate solid fuel mixture, a passageway with flow-directing vanes 20 therein to pass the solid fuel mixture to a position adjacent the outer end of the primary combustion chamber 16, and a connecting conduit 22 adapted to connect the combination burner with the furnace apparatus 12. The combination burner of this invention is adapted to be connected with oil, gas, and solid fuel sources and operate to burn each in combination or individually as desired and to control the combustion thereof. Oil and gas fuels are supplied to the conventional combination oil and/or gas gurner portion ofthe combination burner 10 by means appropriate and well known in the conventional oil and gas burner art. Solid material is supplied in particulate form to the combination burner 10. Preferably, the solid fuel is a combustible fuel having a small amount of ash, for example, wood, some plastic materials, andcoal which can be particulated into small pieces by hogging equipment or other grinding methods; such fuel is transported to the combination burner by an air blower system that is auxiliaryto the actual combination burner and is adapted to move the particular solid fuel in a stream of air. In the solid fuel transportation device the air furnishes means to move the wood and a supply of air for combustion of the solid material.

The inner burner portion 14 of this invention is a conventional type of oil and/or gas burner adapted to burn oil or gas or the combination thereof in a forced airflow environment. The conventional burner 14 is shown connected to an oil line 30 and a gas line 32 and has a blower, generally illustrated as 200, adapted to force air through the outlet portion 34 which contains the oil and gas nozzles and other apparatus of the burner. Blower 200 has a fan 202 for sucking air through louvers 204 to provide the oxygen for combustion. The louvers 204 have controlled openings which are regulated by a servo-controller means 206 (well known within the art) via linkage means 208. The conventional burner structure 14 is essentially the same as conventionally used for the burning of oil and/or gas fuels and includes a pilot burner and flame detector having portions of the apparatus modified to make the control system compensate and consider the solid fuel burning. FIG. 2 shows in detail the outlet portion 34 of the conventional burner 14 in place in the remaining portions of the combination burner structure 10. The outlet portion of the conventional burner 34 includes an oil distribution nozzle 36, gas distribution nozzles 38, oil flame ignition devices 40, an oil nozzle baffle 42, and gas nozzle baffles 44. The end portion of the conventional burner outlet portion 34 is positioned at the interior mouth of the primary combustion chamber 16. The conventional burner 14 has a pilot burner 46, visible in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 of the drawings, extending into the outer portion 34 from the exterior thereof adapted to maintain and direct a flame in the direction of a flame normally produced by the conventional burner and adapted to be used in lighting the burner apparatus.

The primary combustion chamber 16, manifold 18, and passageway are constructed in an integral fashion as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The primary combustion chamber 16 is a frust-conical structure and is referred to in the hereinafter as a cone. The cone 16 forms an inner cone-like portion of the assembly with the manifold 18 and passageway 20 therearound enclosed by an outer cone assembly generally indicated at 50. The outer cone assembly 50 includes a circular front cover 52 to which the conventional burner apparatus 14 is mounted, a plenum outer ring 54, a plenum inner ring 56, a passageway outer cone 58, a passageway inner cone 60, and a plenum inlet 62. The front cover member 52 is a circular plate member having a plurality of access holes 64 on the periphery thereof to provide access to the plenum chamber 51. Preferably, four (4) access holes are provided into the plenum chamber 51, these having access hole covers 66 with viewing ports 68. The access hole covers 66 are threadedly attached to the front cover 52 and removable by the use of lugs 70 on their outer portion. The front cover has an aperture 72 in the center thereof to receive the outer portion 34 of the conventional burner apparatus 14 with a notch 74 therein to receive the pilot burner 46. The front cover 52 also has a plurality of lugs 76 extending therefrom to secure the conventional burner 14. The combination burner 10 when mounted is supported partially by collars 78 secured to opposite sides of the front cover 52. A flame viewing port 82 is provided in the structure of the combination burner 10 with the eye piece portion thereof extending through the front cover 52 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4.

The manifold structure 18 is bounded on one side by the outer peripheral portion of the front cover 52, on its outer portion by the plenum outer ring 54, on its inner portion by the plenum inner ring 56, and on its other side by the passageway 20. The plenum chamber 51 is comprised of the annular ring-like space formed between the inner and outer plenum rings, the outer peripheral portion of the front cover 52 and the inner and outer cone portions 60 and 58, respectively, of the passageway 20, and the plenum chamber is opened to the connecting conduit 22 at the mouth of the cone 16. The plenum inlet'62 is constructed to be tangent to the circular manifold assembly 18 and is provided with a flange thereon 84 to connect the plenum inlet 62 to a solid fuel mixture feed chute 86 or equivalent inlet conduit. FIG. 1 shows the plenum feed chute vertically disposed and leading to the combination burner apparatus 10. In preferred construction'of the feed chute apparatus, it would necessarily include inspection and access covers and the necessary clean-out fixtures. Specific details of the feed chute 86 and other accompanying apparatus are not shown in the drawings as they are not particular details of the herein disclosed invention. The plenum inner and outer rings 56 and 54, respectively, are cylindrical members positioned coaxially relative to each other and to the conventional burner apparatus 14; they are preferably welded in construction to the front cover 52. The passageway outer and inner cones 58 and 60, respectively, are frusto-conical forms positioned coaxially relative each other and relative to the conventional or inner burner apparatus 14; they are preferably in construction welded to the inner and outer plenum rings 56 and 54, respectively, producing a substantially sealed plenum chamber 51.

In the interior portion of the plenum chamber outlet, the passageway portion 20 thereof has a plurality of vanes or baffles 88 mounted therein. The vanes 88 serve to direct air and solid mixture flow through the passageway 20 into the interior of the conduit 22. The vanes 88 are preferably adjustable in their angular position and for this purpose have a stud bolt 90 secured thereto that has a nut-shaped outer end portion 92. The nut-shaped portion 92 is engaged by a nut 94 on the threaded shank portion thereof to hold same in a fixed position relative the passageway outer cone 58. The vanes 88 are preferably shaped as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The stud bolt 90 and lock nut 94 of the vane apparatus enable each vane to be turned in its relative position inside the passageway by use of wrenches contacting the lock nut 94 and nut-shaped outer end portion 92 of the stud 90 on the exterior of the passage way outer cone 58. The nut 94 locks the position of the stud 90 and the vane 88, and the nut-shaped portion 92 of the stud 90 can be used to rotate the angular position of the vane 88.

On the interior of the inner plenum ring 56 and the inner passageway cone 60 a plurality of refractory anchors are attached thereto. These anchors function to hold the refractory material of the. refractory cone 16 in position and in contact with the plenum rings and passageway cone S8 and 60. Preferably, U-shaped anchors 96 are used on the passageway inner cone 60, and T-shaped anchors 98 are used on the plenum inner ring 56. The refractory material indicated at 100 is preferably a plastic type of refractory material which is moldable into the desired shape needed to form the refractory cone 16 of the combination burner of this invention. A layer of insulative material, indicated at 101, is placed between the refractory cone 16 and the front cover 52 in the circular area inside the inner plenum ring 56.

The cone or primary combustion chamber 16 is formed between the front cover 52, the plenum inner ring 56, the passageway inner cone 60, and has an aperture therethrough connecting with the aperture 72 on the front cover to receive the outletportion 34 of the conventional oil and/or gas burner apparatus 14. Frimary combustion of fuels introduced by the combination burner takes place in the primary combustion chamber 16 or cone before the wood fuel is introduced into the combustion process. The cone 16 has a generally cylindrical sidewall 104 connecting the cone aperture 102 to the cone outer rim 106 in a general frustoconical form. The cone 16 preferably has a planar bottom 107 around the aperture 102 and rounded corners 109 at the sidewall junction. The refractory material anchors 96 and 98 are embedded within the refractory material 100 and constructed so as to be spaced a sufficient distance from the conical sidewall 104. An additional aperture 108 is provided through the cone structure 16 as indicated at 108 connecting the viewing port 82 with the interior of the cone terminating at the com cal sidewall 104. The viewing port aperture 108 is constructed and placed so as to provide a person with a view of that portion of the burner structure in which combustion has taken place. The viewing port 82 is positioned as generally shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

The connecting conduit portion 22 of the combination burner apparatus 10 includes an outer conduit wall 110 lined with refractory material, mounted with the passageway outer cone 58 and mountable with the structure of a furnace. The conduit outer wall 110 is cylindrical and positioned coaxiliar with the conventional or inner burner apparatus 14, the manifold 18, and the passageway cone it is secured to the passageway outer cone 58 a short distance thereon and spaced from its rimmed portion 112. A mounting ring 114 is secured to and extends perpendicularly from the conduit outer wall and has a plurality of apertures 116 therethrough adapted to be engaged by stud bolts 118 which extend from the furnace wall 120. A plurality of refractory anchors 122 having a T-shape extend inwardly from the conduit outer wall 110 to engage the refractory material 124. Additionally, other refractory anchors indicated at 126 extend outward from the outer small end portion of the passageway outer conduit 58 to engage the end portion of the refractory material 124 in contact with that surface. A portion ofinsulative material indicated at 128 is placed inside the conduit outer wall 110 adjacent to the passageway outer cone 58 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The refractory material 124 is preferably a plastic refractory material and molded to form inside the cylinderical outer wall 110 of the connecting conduit 22. The inner end portion of the connecting conduit 22 is indicated at 130; this end is preferably cut off flat so that it may be joined with the furnace wall interior and shaped accordingly. A lifting lug 131 is provided on the upper portion of the combination burner apparatus at the junction of the passageway outer cone 58 and the outer portion of the conduit outer wall 110 as shown to be used in installa tion of the burner apparatus 10.

FIG. 1 shows the combination oil, gas, and/or solid fuel burner apparatus of this invention 10 mounted with a furnace 12. The combination burner 10 is mounted with the furnace wall by having the mounting ring 114 secured to the furnace wall 138, and having cantilevered beams 150 extending from the furnace wall above the burner apparatus 10 secured to the burner apparatus with vertical support members 152. The furnace structure 12 includes a furnace wall 138 through which the burner apparatus is mounted, a fire area into which the flame of the burner apparatus is directed, a boiler 140 above the tire area, fire access door 143, grates 144, and ashpit 146, and an ashpit cleanoutdoor 148. in the actual mounting of the burner apparatus 10 the outlet conduit 22 thereof enters the furnace wall 138 in a refractory mouth portion 120. The mounting ring 114 around the outlet conduit 122 is secured to the furnace wall 138. To compensate for the weight of the burner apparatus additional support is shown on the outer portion thereof to illustrate an additional support structure. A pair of cantilevered beams extend outward from the furnace wall 138 above the burner apparatus 10, one on each side thereof, and are joined by connecting members 152 with the collars 78 on the front cover 52. The connecting members 152 are preferably joined by a universal joint for adjustment in mounting the burner apparatus. The lifting lugs 80 and 131 are provided as integral members of the burner apparatus and are convenient to use in installation of the burner apparatus 10. In addition to the electrical, oil, and gas power required by the conventional burner apparatus 14, a feed chute 86 must be installed to move with material to the burner apparatus 10 in an airflow. The outlet mouth portion from the burner apparatus 10 indicated at 120 and formed with the furnace wall 138 is shown as a rounded inlet in the drawings; however, such may be shaped as desired when necessary for a particular use or installation of the burner apparatus, and such is preferably constructed from plastic refractory material.

FIG. 5 discloses an auxiliary blower, generally illustrated as 210, having the fan 202 and the servocontroller means 206 for regulating the controlled openings of the louvers 204 via linkage means 208. Support members 214 support the auxiliary blower 210 and the blower 200.- Blower 210 is in communication with the plenum chamber 51 and the conduit 58 via conduit 212 and provides combustion air when the conveying air for the combustible particulate material (e.g., sawdust) in conduit 214 is less than that required to provide combustion air for the total input to the burner 10.

With continual reference to the drawings, in particular FIG. 6, for operation of the process of this invention, a conveyor means 220 deposits combustible particulate material 222 into a wood hog/dryer 224 wherein the particulate material 222 is dried by free falling concurrently with heated air produced through conduit 230 by a blower 226 moving room air over a steam coil 228. Drying permits burning in suspension and eliminates smoke to pass present pollution control requirements. Blower 232 transfers the dried particulate material through a conduit 234 into a planing mill collector means 236 from where it is passed by gravity into a storage bin 238. A collector filter means 240 is in communication with the planing mill collector 236 through conduit 242 and 244, and is a well known means withinthe art for collecting the light ends of the particulate matter. Conveyor means 246 transfers the dried particulate matter from bin 238 into an air gate bin, generally indicated as 248, having an air gate 250 which preferably can only open to about 60 percent of the maximum flow in order to obtain a minimum firing rate through conduit 214. A conveying and combustion air fan 252 conveys the dried particulate material plus combustion air through conduit 214 and into the burner 10. Fan 252 is preferably a high pressure con; veyor and conduit 214 is preferably small such that only about 25 percent of the air required for combustion is used to convey the fuel. The remaining 75 percent of the air required for combustion is preferably supplied by the auxiliary blower 210 (see FIG. 5). The advantage of these operating conditions is that the burner 10 can operate at a lower firing rate (thus more efficient) than the systemwhere all of the combustion air has to be provided by the fan 252. This latter system is hindered in that due to turbulent conditions throttling of the combustion air (or conveying air) by fan 252 can only be to about 60 percent of the maximum. If the conveying airflow is reduced to less than about 60 percent ofthe maximum, the velocity in conduit 214 will not be high enough to carry the particulate matter. Therefore, the preferred embodiment is to keep the pressure of the conveying air high and about constant in a small diameter conduit 214 such that throttling air is essentially provided by fan 252 and combustion air is generally provided by the auxiliary fan 210. This preferred embodiment has been found to be most efficient.

Burned particulate material is discharged into an HRT boiler, generally indicated as 254, having a grate 256 and conduits 258 in communication therewith for conducting fly ash into a fly ash separator 262 which is in communication via conduit 266 with a stack 264. Drum 268 is positioned within boiler 254 and receives heat therefrom to turn water entering through conduit 270 into steam so that the steam coils 228 might be replenished via'conduit 260.

In the use and operation of the burner apparatus 10 of this invention, it is necessary to supply the burner apparatus with the types of fuel necessary for its operation; namely, oil, gas (such as natural gas or liquid petroleum gas), and particulate solid material. The oil and gas fuels can be supplied to theburner apparatus 10 as required by the particular conventional combination burner apparatus 14, which is a part of this invention. The particulate solid fuel is preferably wood, plastic, coal or other suitable substitutes which can be made very small in particle size so they will burn in suspension and only the ash will fall to the grate. It is to be noted the particulate solid fuel supplied need not be homogeneous in size or kind. This fuel is preferably stored in quantity and can be moved from the storage area by gravity or mechanical conveying systems. Depending upon the situation, the mechanical conveyance can be accomplished by the use of blowers, screw augers, or conveyor belts and the like. In the event the conveyance system is not an air distribution type, the solid fuel must be fed into an auxiliary blowing device connected to the burner apparatus. The gaseous stream which conveys the solid material to the burner apparatus furnishes the energy to carry the solid fuel particles through the feed chute 86, the manifold 18 and on through the passageway 20 and also supplies oxygen for combustion of the solid fuel. Normally air can be used to supply the oxygen containing gaseous stream to carry the particulate wood material to the burner apparatus; however,.it is to be understood that any gas can be used which has an oxygen content sufficient to sustain combustion of the solid fuel. I r

In the normal operation of the combination burner in the process invention when operating on all three fuels, (oil, gas and solid), the solid fuel and air mixture enters the burner manifold inlet 62 and passes through the plenum chamber and passageway under pressure, then is driven into the existing oil and/or gas flame furnished by the auxiliary oil and/or gas burner apparatus 14. As the solid fuel mixture passes through the manifold 18, and more particularly through the passageway 20 with the vanes 88 therein, it is thoroughly mixed before leaving the discharge end of the passageway 20. The turbulence of the solid fuel mixture from the auxiliary burner 14 mixing with the turbulence of the solid fuel mixture from the passageway and the immediate introduction to the high temperature flame area maintained by the auxiliary burner 14 results in a rapid combustion of all the introduced fuels. Normal operation of the burner apparatus 10 can include operation of the conventional burner apparatus 14 along withthe solid burning portion of the device; however, it is to be noted that the conventional burner apparatus 14 can be operated without the benefit of the solid fuel, and likewise the burner apparatus 10 can be operated without the conventional burner apparatus 14 being in operation. The conventional burner apparatus 14 is necessary'to start the solid fuel flame burning and may be necessary to maintain the solid fuel flame depending upon the firing conditions.

In conjunction with the physical apparatus of the combination burner 10 the device necessarily has auxiliary control devices necessary for its operation. One controlling device controls the amount of solid fuel and air or oxygen containing gas delivered to the burner. The input of solid fuel mixture will increase or decrease as required to maintain desired conditions in the boiler. If the burner is unable to maintain the desired steam pressure the control will cause more of the solid fuel mixture to be delivered to the burner; in the event it is still unable to maintain the desired steam pressure, the conventional burner apparatus 14 is actuated so as to increase the heat produced as necessary. Another portion of the control device regulates the conventional burner apparatus 14 and is adapted to function mainly upon the start-up of the burner or as needed. Upon start-up of the burner apparatus 10, the operating and limit controls of the auxiliary burner apparatus are actuated first. The auxiliary burner 14 purges the furnace for the normal prepurge cycle commonly associated with conventional oil and/or gas burner devices. The pilot system is then energized and the main fuel is ignited; in this instance it can be either oil and/or gas fuel. After the flame has been proved by a flame safeguard system on the conventional burner apparatus, the blower system for the solid fuel is started and the flow control apparatus allows movement of solid fuel into the feed chute 86 and on into the burner apparatus 10. At any time during the operation of the burner apparatus, if a flame is not proved by the safeguard system, then the auxiliary burner apparatus fuel valves will close and stop that system, and the solid burner blower system will stop and the volume control will close thereby shutting down the burner apparatus. If any time in the operation of the burner apparatus any operating or limit control therewith opens, then the auxiliary burner fuel valves will close and the wood blower will stop, and its volume control will close thereby stopping operation of the burner apparatus. In any of the shut-down modes or operations it is preferred that the blower of the conventional and auxiliary burner apparatus 14 post-purge the furnace for a short time before stopping.

In the manufacture of the combination oil, gas, and- /or solid burner structure utilized in the process of this invention, it is obvious that the burner structure can be produced by means consistent with current burner manufacture to achieve the end product. The combination burner apparatus of this invention can be installed with a blower furnace or other furnace in the same manner as a conventional combination burner apparatus in the prior art, making only small allowances for support of the outer portion of the structure.

In the use and operation of the combination oil, gas, and/or solid burner structure of this invention, it is seen that same provides a means of burning simultaneously or individually oil, gas, and/or solid fuels and that same is adaptable for use with furnaces the same as other prior art and conventional combination burner structures. Additionally, in the use and operation of the combination burner structure of this invention, it is seen that same provides a means of burning solid material in a forced airflow along with oil or gas fuels and in any combination therewith.

As will become apparent from the foregoing description of the applicants process and combination oil, gas, and/or solid burner structure, relatively simple means have been provided to burn particulate solid fuel in combination with oil and/or gas fuels. The process and combination burner structure are simple to use, adapted to be used with conventional oil and/or gas burner devices and requires little additional apparatus for its operation and installation with a furnace. The process and combination burner structure is economical in that it allows use of oil, gas, and particulate solid fuels to be used in the burner or any combination thereof, whichever is most economically suitable depending upon the cost of the fuels at a particular location. The process and burner apparatus of this invention is adapted to burn solid combustible material which can be combustible scraps or by-products of a manufacturing facility.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. The process for burning combustible particulate material comprising introducing said particulate mate rial into a combination burner means adapted to burn oil, gas, and/or solid fuels, having a fuel oil and/or gas inner burner means having means therewith to connect same to a source of oxygen containing gas, a primary combustion chamber having a divergent end portion and positioned adjacent and in substantially coaxial surrounding relation with the outlet of said inner burner means, a passageway, the outer end thereof adjacent and in flow communication with the outlet of said combustion chamber, means with the inlet of said passageway to connect same to a source of oxygen containing gas and a source of particulate combustible solid material, a conduit in one end portion surrounding and in communication with said outlet end of said passageway and said primary combustion chamber and mountable in the other end portion in a furnace wall or the like, said combination burner means being constructed and adapted to burn fuel oil and/or gas in said inner burner means and said combustion chamber, and simultaneously or alone subsequent to said burning burn combustible particulate solid material passed with oxygen containing gas through said passageway into the outlet of said combustion chamber, said passageway in operation passes said solid material and said oxygen containing gas mixture into said conduit at said divergent end portion of said combustion chamber for the combustion of said mixture, said passageway is annular and surrounds said divergent end of said primary combustion chamber, said passageway has a plurality of adjustably mounted air-directing vanes therein, and said means with the inlet of said passageway to connect same to a source of oxygen containing gas and a source of particulate solid material is a manifold means.

2. The process of claim 1 additionally including drying said combustible particulate material in a drying zone prior to said introducing.

3. The process of claim 2 additionally including passing said dried particulate material into a storage bin prior to said introducing.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein said burner additionally includes an auxiliary blower means in communication with said passageway therein to supply the majority of the air for combustion.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein said primary combustion chamber has a generally frusto-conical interior portion, and said inner burner means has the outlet thereof in a burner aperture at the apex portion of said primary combustion chamber adapted in operation to direct a flame on the interior thereof toward the divergent end portion thereof.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein said manifold means has an annular manifold portion having an inlet thereto operably connected to said oxygen containing 1 1 12 gas and said solid material sources and an outlet therelined with refractory type material. from connected said passageway at said inlet thereof, 8. The process of claim 6 wherein said oxygen conand said air-directing vanes are adapted in operation to taining gas is air. 1 direct said solid material and said oxygen containing 9. The process of claim 8 wherein said particulate gas in a mixture of fuel in a straight or a swirling mansolid material is wood material. ner relative said primary combustion chamber. 10. The process of claim 8 wherein said particulate 7. The process .of claim 6 wherein said cone is consolid material is plastic material. structed of refractory type material, and said conduit is 

1. The process for burning combustible particulate material comprising introducing said particulate material into a combination burner means adapted to burn oil, gas, and/or solid fuels, having a fuel oil and/or gas inner burner means having means therewith to connect same to a source of oxygen containing gas, a primary combustion chamber having a divergent end portion and positioned adjacent and in substantially coaxial surrounding relation with the outlet of said inner burner means, a passageway, the outer end thereof adjacent and in flow communication with the outlet of said combustion chamber, means with the inlet of said passageway to connect same to a source of oxygen containing gas and a source of particulate combustible solid material, a conduit in one end portion surrounding and in communication with said outlet end of said passageway and said primary combustion chamber and mountable in the other end portion in a furnace wall or the like, said combination burner means being constructed and adapted to burn fuel oil and/or gas in said inner burner means and said combustion chamber, and simultaneously or alone subsequent to said burning burn combustible particulate solid material passed with oxygen containing gas through said passageway into the outlet of said combustion chamber, said passageway in operation passes said solid material and said oxygen containing gas mixture into said conduit at said divergent end portion of said combustion chamber for the combustion of said mixture, said passageway is annular and surrounds said divergent end of said primary combustion chamber, said passageway has a plurality of adjustably mounted air-directing vanes therein, and said means with the inlet of said passageway to connect same to a source of oxygen containing gas and a source of particulate solid material is a manifold means.
 2. The process of claim 1 additionally including drying said combustible particulate material in a drying zone prior to said introducing.
 3. The process of claim 2 additionally including passing said dried particulate material into a storage bin prior to said introducing.
 4. The process of claim 1 wherein said burner additionally includes an auxiliary blower means in communication with said passageway therein to supply the majority of the air for combustion.
 5. The process of claim 1 wherein said primary combustion chamber has a generally frusto-conical interior portion, and said inner burner means has the outlet thereof in a burner aperture at the apex portion of said primary combustion chamber adapted in operation to direct a flame on the interior thereof toward the divergent end portion thereof.
 6. The process of claim 5 wherein said manifold means has an annular manifold portion having an inlet thereto operably connected to said oxygen containing gas and said solid material sources and an outlet therefrom connected said passageway at said inlet thereof, and said air-directing vanes are adapted in operation to direct said solid material and said oxygen containing gas in a mixture of fuel in a straight or a swirling manner relative said primary combustion chamber.
 7. The process of claim 6 wherein said cone is constructed of refractory type material, and said conduit is lined with refractory type material.
 8. The process of claim 6 wherein said oxygen containing gas is air.
 9. The process of claim 8 wherein said particulate solid material is wood material.
 10. The process of claim 8 wherein said particulate solid material is plastic material. 